Time Warner has bid about $1.4 billion for Netherlands-based entertainment producer Endemol. The debt-laden producer of ‘Big Brother’ has been trying to restructure its debts for more than a year and Time Warner is reportedly ready to put up another $100 million in fresh working capital. A few days ago, Endemol gained permission from its […]
Dan Goldberg, CEO at Ottawa-based Telesat, has reported flat revenues for the nine month period to September 30th, but he stated that new craft coming on stream next year will boost income for the satellite operator. Two satellites are due for launch in 2012: Nimiq-6 and Anik G1. Telesat’s revenues were $585 million for the […]
DirecTV has made what some see as an ‘emergency’ contract with Astrium to build DirecTV-15. The satellite is needed because DirecTV-10 (launched July 2007) suffered problems with its primary propulsion this past summer and while the satellite is operating well on its back-up system, full in-orbit back-up is needed. Additionally, DirecTV is also bringing forward […]
Argentinean mobile telephony operator Claro launched its “Ideas Entretenimiento” (Entertainment Ideas) OTT service in Argentina. The company’s Premium Plan is offered at $9 a month. The Premium package offers access to more than a thousand titles. There’s also a lower-priced bundle at $4.50 a month that offers 530 titles. According to the company, “Claro will […]
Telefonica has signed a strategic partnership with Quantenna Communications, a specialist in ultra-reliable Wi-Fi networking for whole home entertainment. The partnership sees Telefonica making a strategic equity investment in Quantenna which gives it access to the latest Quantenna technology for the deployment of high performance video services to the home. Quantenna has the networking expertise […]
Arabsat is now carrying 30 high-definition channels. The number has been boosted by the signing of a six-channel HD deal with ‘Saudi Sport’. The six HD channels are complemented by six in standard definition from Saudi Sport. The channels are dedicated to carrying the soccer matches and sport activities of Zain Saudi league, claimed to […]
Farncombe, the specialist consultancy, has announced the launch of the Farncombe Test Lab, following an agreement to acquire the laboratory testing facilities of UK pay-DTT operator Top Up TV. The Farncombe Test Lab will continue to work with Top Up TV, which will be out-sourcing its future testing requirements to Farncombe, whose team has been […]
Discovery Communications has made its first acquisition of an independent production company by snapping up Betty – the UK firm behind shows such as Dirty Sexy Things, The Joy of Teen Sex and Freaky Eaters. The US factual broadcaster is reported to have paid about £10 million (€11.7m) for Betty as it looks to expand […]
Germany launched digital radio format DAB+ in August at IFA and market research company GfK says DAB+ “is set to significantly impact on sales of portable audio devices (e.g. portable radios, clock radios, radio recorders and other product categories) in Germany.” Indeed, GfK data shows there was a “considerable” increase in radio sales in August […]
Experimental transmissions have started of Jordan’s Al-Yarmuk channel, according to BBC Monitoring. In a press statement, Wa’il al-Saqqa, head of the Al-Yarmuk channel board of directors, said that the channel aims to present a sincere objective national media message that can be added to the diverse Jordanian media, so that it can contribute effectively in […]